Apparatus for manufacturing thin rubber articles



Nov. 1, 1932.

F. L. K ILLIAN Filed Aug. 9, 1928 2 sheets-sheet j1 im ifi.

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F. I,... KILLIAN Nov. l, 1932.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN RUBBER ARTICLES vFiled Aug. g, 1928 y, 2 sheets-sheet 2- FRED L KILLIAN I VENT R had; ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1932" y'rlnlin L. ximian; or'v minou, fo'HIo APPARATUS son ivrnnuracruarne THIN vamasar Airilojtus f Ap'p`1iapimi*1aed august e; r192s. "serial 110.1298578.

' This invention relatestonew and novelfimn provements in .apparatus formanufacturing Y thin rubber articles by the dipping process. f

Broadly stated, objects of the invention are.

to provide a-device of simple-construction which may be foperated to produce Vdipped -rubber goods of- Vuniform constructionv and which will leliminatein large part a number of vmanual operations yheretofore :considered necessary. 1 ,Y

A further object,v is'torprovidea new and improved means for Asupporting forms where:

by the same may be carried through the successive steps necessary to the completepro-V duction of rubber articles byfthev'dipping process, without removing theformsfrom the supporting means.y l

The invention provides aform support that the invention is not confined to the vpla-rf j ticular form shown, but iscapable of various,`

adaptationsrand is subject to changes and modiications which come within thespirit of the invention as set forth in the claims Yhereuntoappended. i y I In the drawings like characters 'of referencey are employed to designatevlike parts as the same may appearin any ofthe several .views and in which Figure 1is a plan view illustrating a bread` rolling device a form holding means constructed in kaccordance with this invention in operative engagement therewith, i. y l

Figure 2 is a side `elevational View of same, Figure 3 is a fragmentary `view showing :in side elevation the endportion of aform supf reducingthe invention to practice,

in accordance Withthis-finvention. l"

f lilachbar` 12is portingvbar constructed `in accordanc'efwith this invention, the' same being shown withV n forms operatively;mountedthereon,,

- Figure lfis aplanviewgwith parts broken yaway-showingv the form Yholding bars and il- `lustratingthemanner in which thesam'e are connected, Figure 5 isa View rolling device illustrating the` manner in in end elevation, f a bead which the form holdinglbars arepresented thereto, theform holding barand a part of the form .being shown in vertical cross section, Figure 6is a .view somewhat diagrammatic in ch'aracter illustrating parts of the-driving mechanism and bar engaging means usedy in Figure 7 is acrosslsectional view ofa'forni mounted on a form carrying barconstructed V In theparticular#adaptation ofthe `invenL ltiongsho wn, the numeral 10 is used generally to denote aformrack and the numeral 1-11a bead rolling,V device such as is illustrated and described in myfformer Patent No.1,605fl45 whichl vissued'l November ,-2, 1926. The numeral12 denotes ari-improved form supporty ing -barlpwhich is preferably of a length adapte ed to be received in' one ofthe forniracksy l() Y as hereinafter described. Each bar 12 `Comprises an elongated ,bodyte'rminatingat each y end thereof in lanr enlarged header 13. The head 13 is provided witha horizontal'l slot 14 which extends thereink from .theV outer end thereof for a purposefpresen'tly-.to appear, i HEach' head l13 is substantially wider than :inwardly presentedY square shoulders 15 at each end ofthe bar. yThe shoulder 15 is 'adaptedto bevengaged by means of Operatively `conveying the bars through the several l vprocesses of manufacture hereinafter ndescribed. V v

provided onthe, upper face thereof with a1plurality,ofcylindrical bosses 16 which y'are positioned in` spaCedrela-tionfy.

thereon va` 'longitudinally directed row. Each boss 16V is provided,with` av suitablebore 17 ,which projects axiallytherethroughV and A Cn the main body of the bar 12thereby providingL extends Vthrough, the Vbody of thebar 12.` 'A y i pinv 18 is rigidly secured in eachbore The numeral 19 denotes a form which may be of any desired construction and which is provided on the lower end thereof with an axial` bore 20 adapted to Vreceiveone of the pins 18. Each form is provided with a groove 21 which extends therearound 'in a plane in spaced relation to the lower end thereof. The numeral 22 denotes brackets which are secured to the upper face of each bar 12 by means of the rivets 23 or other suitable means. Each bracket 22 terminates at the upper end thereof in a horizontal portion which is entered in one of the slots 21 whereby each form 19is retained in position on one of the pins 18. 1t will thus be seen that leach of the bars 12 is provided with a plurality of "forms whichV are rotatably secured thereto in a longitudinally directed row.

The numeral 24: denotes a link which is provided adjacent eachend thereof with a suitable bore 25; The head 13 is likewise'prd vided at a pointcentrally thereof with a vertical bore 26. Each end of each link 211 is operatively positioned in one of the i slots lil with the bore 25 coinciding with the bore 26 in the head 13. A pin 27 which is somewhat similar to the pins 18 is positioned through the bores 25 and 26, to hingedly secure each end ofeach link 24 in one of the heads 13. It willfthusrbe seen that a plurality of bars may be thus connected and that each bar will Y have a free swinging movement relative to the adjacentbar.

It will thus be` seen that a plurality of bars 12 Ymay be connected by means of the links 24to form a long chain which maybe employed to successively present the forms 1j9 to certain steps in the process of manufacture,` and that the bars 12 may be folded as shown in Figure 1 to Iform a compact bed for the purpose of conveying-the forms from one operation to the other or for collectively submitting a. large number of forms to one operation.

The frame 10 is employed to support the members 12 to hold the same in a compact bed and may be of any suitable construction. The frame 19 as shown in the drawings is provid- Y ed'on each of its four sides with a hinged member 10a whichmay be swung upwardly to enclose the bars 12. Each member 10a is provided at the outer edge thereof with the flange-10b which is adapted to project over the end portion 13 of the'bars 12 when the members 19a are swung to an upright position thereby providing means for retaining Y the members 12 on the frame 10. r1`he end members 10a are provided on each end thereof with an ear 10c which is arranged to overlap the ends of the side members to retain the same in an upright position. Any suitable fastening means suchas the pin 12d is e1nployed to hold the four end members 10a in an upright position, thus securely retaining the bars 12 in a compact bed. With the frames folded and thus locked in position on the frame 10, the entire frame is positioned in the dipping machine which may be of ordinary or improved construction and the forms 19 are coated with rubber by the well known dipping process. The bed 10 is then positioned on one of the trucks `28 and the same is conveyedto the bead rolling machine 1 11. The bead rolling machine 11 is provided 4with. an ontake table 11a which is preferably composed of relatively thin sheet iron. rlhe ontake table 11a is hingedly secured to the frame of the bead rolling machine 11 by means of the hingellt), and the outer end of the ontake table 11a is supported by means of therods or cables 11o-which extend to an overhead support (not shown). rllhe table 11a is positioned in aV horizontal plane infimediatelyV sprocket wheels 11g and 11h so as to' extend longitudinally of the machine 11. 'A forl member 11j is positioned on the chain llf to engage the shoulders'l on the bars 12 and forcefth'e said bars longitudinally through the machine 11. The truck 10 is positioned at the outer edge of theontake table 11a, with the Vside members 10aare folded downwardly and the first bar 12 is extended inwardly to a position where it is engaged byV one of the fork members 11j. This forces the barA 11 through the guide slot 1170A which extends longitudinally of the'machine and subjects each form 19 to the action of a cylindrical brush 11n which is positioned longitudinally ofthe guide slot 117e` as is described in my former patent to which reference has been made.

It will be noted that the forms are thus driven longitudinally of the brush 11n and that the same are rotated by means of the belt 1 11m while in Contact with the rotating brush 11n, thereby rolling the lower edge of a tubular rubber article positioned on said forms 19 upwardly and forming an annular bead on the open end thereof. i

The numeral 11p denotes an offtake table which is similar to the ontake table 11a and is similarly secured thereto by means of the hinge 11o. A supporting member 110 is likewise employed to support the outer end of the offtake table 11p. The table 11p is provided with suitable guide members 11g whichV are similar to the guide members 11d Von the table 11a. T he guide members converge. from the parallel guide members'llan on the machine 11. A truck 28 is positionedr along the oli'- take table 23 and one of the end rails 10a is swung downwardly and'secured in position to receive the" iirstbar 12 as it is driven from the machine. As eachsuccessive bar is driven through the machine 11 by means of the chain 117i, the bars 12 are thus folded on the rack 10 on the truck 28 at the of'ftalre `end of the` machine. As each bar k12 is added to the frame 10, the truck 28 is pushed forwardly on the wheels 28a until the entire chain Vof the connected bars 12 are folded to completely iill the frame 12. The side members 10a are'then folded in position on the frame 10 and are driven through a vulcanizing chamber and through a steaming chamber. The frame is then positioned on a truck 28 and bars 12 are extended and passed through a take-off machine similar to theA device shown and described in United States Letters Patent N o. 1,483,664; granted February 12, 1924. The bars are again folded in one of the frames 10 and are positioned on one of trucks 28 and conveyed to the dipping tank.

The brush 11a is preferably positioned at an upward inclination to the path of. the forms with the lower end therof presented toward the ontake end of the machine. A construction is thus provided in which the brush will iirst engage the lowermost edge of the rubber article positioned on each form and will roll the same upwardlyv in accordance with the relative inclination of the brush and conveyor.

While the device 11 is illustrated and described asa bead rolling machine, it will be seen that the brush 11n operates to roll the lower edge of the rubber article upwardly on the form and that the size of the bead or roll is regulated by the inclination of the brush relative to the path of the rotating forms. It will thus be seen that the brush 11/1J may be set at an inclination which will cause it to contact with the full lengthfof the form 19 while the form is being driven'longitudinally thereof, in which case thearticle will be entirely removed from the form. It is therefore considered unnecessary to illustrate the take-off mechanism as it is structurally the same as the bead rolling mechanism, differing only in minor details, such as the inclination rof the brush 11n.

Obviously, each bar 12 maybe provided with two rows of forms and the mechanism shown in the device 11 duplicated to provide a brush 11n and form rotating means 11m on each side of the conveyor 11;c thereby providing means for simultaneo-usly operating on two rows of forms. e

It will thus be seen that I have provided a new and novel supporting means whereby forms may be locked in a compact bed and collectively submitted to certain operations which may be extended to successivelysub-y mit each form to certain other operations.

3' In a form Support, a plurality of form 1f supporting members, forms carried by each i' member, straps connecting said members, said strapsbeing vhingedlyconnected to each. member for movement on a verticalaxis. f y ,4. In a form support, a plurality of form supporting members', forms rotatably mounted -on each member and hinge means connecting said members in end to end relation.V

5f. In a device of the class described, a plurality ofconnected form supports, ak plurality of formsrotatably mounted on each support, beadY forming means Vand means lactuating said form supports to operatively present said forms to said bead rolling means.

- 6. In apparatus for manufacturing' think l rubber articles, bead rolling means-,a plu-1 rality of connected formfsupporting members, aV plurality of formsmounted on eachV member and means to successively .move said:

members to bring said forms in.v operative c engagement with said bead rolling'means.

7. Inl apparatus of the class described, rotatable bead rolling means, form rotating means, va plurality of connected form engaging members, forms rotatably mounted'on each member. and' means actuating said form carrying members to bring the forms in operative contact with said bead" forming means. v v

8. In apparatus of the class described,bead E 'formingA means, a plurality of members,

forms mounted on each member, means. connecting said members and means to succes-- sively move said Amembers lto said beadV form-v ing means. Y i

f 9. In apparatus of the classdescribed,a

a plurality of Vforms mounted on each'barand means to successively move said bars relative to said brush to4 bring'said. forms inoperal tive Contact therewith.4

Vrotatable brush, a plurality of connected'bars,

'10; In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of form carrying member's, means tohingedly conn-ect said members whereby the same may be extended in a line or folded to form a compact racland means operable` to hold the same in a folded condition.

11. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a plurality of form carrying LFI.

members, means connecting said members whereby the same may be extended in a line or folded in parallel relation, a rack for holding said members in a folded position thereon and means operable to lock said members on said rack.

12. Apparatus of the class described comprising a series of members, each rotatably supporting,` a plurality of dipping forms arranged in a rovv, means hingedly connecting said members whereby the same may be eX- tended in a straight line or folded in a compact bed, means to hold said members in a compact bed While the forms are dipped, means to operate on the forms, means for extendingl said members and conveying the same past said operating means and means for rotating said forms during the movement of said members past said operating means.

13.. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a series of hingedly connected mein-` bers, each rotatably supporting one or more forms, means for operating on the forms, means for rotating` the forms While operated upon and means for conveying said members past the operating means and form rotating means.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of hingedly connected members, each rotatably supporting a plurality of forms, means for operating` on the forms and means to convey said members past said operating means.

l5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a plurality of members, each supporting a plurality of forms, means to connect said members inrend to end relation whereby the same may be folded for simultaneously dipping all of the forms in a rubber solution to form a rubber article thereon and extended in a line, means to operate on said rubber articles and means to convey said members in a line to present said articles to said operating means.

16. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a plurality of members each supporting a plurality of forms, means to hingedly connect said members whereby the same may be folded to form a compact rack or extended in a line, means to operate on said forms, means to unfold said members and drive the same in a line past said operating means and means to again fold said members in a compact rack after the same have been driven past said operating means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRED L.r KHJLIAN. 

